Speed awareness courses

Who qualifies for a speed awareness course?

Not everyone who speeds will be offered to go on the course. You’ll only be offered the course if:

• You haven't been convicted for any other speeding offences in the past three years
• You've been caught driving over 10% plus 2mph of the limit, but below 10% plus 9mph.

For example, in a 30mph zone, this means anything between 35mph and 42mph, and in a 70mph zone it means anything between 79mph and 86mph

In any other circumstances you'll receive a fixed penalty notice and a minimum of three points on your licence. For serious speeding offences, 10% plus 9mph over the limit, you’ve every chance of being taken to court.

What happens on a speed awareness course?

Speed awareness courses have a strong emphasis on education and engagement. You won't be patronised, told off or subjected to endless road safety videos.

There’s no test at the end, but you might be quizzed on your knowledge and challenged on how you can build on it.

They encourage defensive driving and increased awareness of the obstacles and dangers drivers face every time they hit the road.

They’ll also remind you that you've not had any other driver training or refresher courses since you originally passed your test.

Who runs the speed awareness courses?

Speed awareness courses are run by independent, regional bodies who work with local constabularies. The courses are regulated by the National Association of Driver Intervention Providers.

How much are speed awareness courses?

Each course has its own fee, but they’re usually around £100.

Why take a speed awareness course over a fixed penalty?

Depending on your income, a fixed penalty fine could cost you a lot more than the course.

It’s not just the cost of the fine though. Having points on your licence will push your insurance premiums up. Depending on the conviction, your points will stay on your licence for at least four and, in some cases, up to 11 years.

But if you accept a place on a speed awareness course, your licence will remain point-free.

Do I have to tell my insurer?

You don't need to tell your insurer you’ve been on a speed awareness course, unless they ask you directly.

The police and local authorities don’t inform insurers either. And you won't be asked about driver awareness courses when you compare car insurance quotes with us.

The onus is on the insurer to collect all the information that they need from you to provide cover, not for you to declare everything that they think might be important.

“Opting for a speed awareness course means that the police do not record your speeding offence as a conviction, but you may still be required to disclose your attendance to your insurer,” said Gocompare.com's Matt Oliver.

How will it affect my premium?

Some insurers will view your attendance on a speed awareness course as a risk factor when calculating your premiums, others won’t.

If an insurer hasn't asked whether you've attended a speed awareness course, then they can’t use it to calculate your quote. You won’t be asked by us, and the insurers on our panel haven’t asked us to add it to our quote process either.

Insurers view driving convictions very differently though – they all take it seriously. You’ll be asked about any driving convictions you’ve had in the last five years when you get quotes with us. Not telling us to get cheaper insurance is a bad idea. If you ever need to claim, and your insurer finds out, they’ll probably cancel your insurance and refuse to pay out.

How to avoid speeding tickets

Avoiding speed awareness courses and speeding tickets is the best option. You’ll be safer and better off:

1. Plan your route

You're less likely to run late and find yourself rushing to get where you need to be

2. Use cruise control on motorways

Maintaining a constant speed will also increase your mpg

3. Leave early

Leave yourself enough time to account for any traffic or diversions

4. Look out for road signs

Stay aware of road signs informing you of speed changes. Remember that the national speed limit is 60mph on single carriage roads, and 70mph on double carriage roads and motorways

5. Use navigation apps

Many navigation apps display the speed limits where you're driving - these aren't always up to date, so keep an eye out for road signs too

By Simon Read